Beverage container accessories

ABSTRACT

A holder is mounted on a tapered container having a rim. Radial portions on the holder extend past the rim and serve as fingerholds to support the container, and as a splash guard to resist spillage from the container&#39;s contents. A cylindrical skirt on the holder bounds an annular space with the container for increased thermal insulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to beverage containersfor serving hot or cold drinks and, more particularly, to accessoriesfor comfortably holding a container in one's hand without spilling thebeverage, without dropping the container, and without the discomfortassociated with extreme temperatures and condensation.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Wax-covered paper and polystyrene have been used in beveragecontainers for many years by consumers, fast food restaurants andtake-out stores. Polystyrene is an excellent thermal insulator, but isnot easily recyclable or biodegradable. Paper is more recyclable andbiodegradable, but is a poor thermal insulator and, as a result, papercups filled with a hot beverage, such as coffee, tea or soup, aredifficult to handle comfortably. Many a drinker has dropped a paper cupfilled with hot coffee, or spilled coffee therefrom, due to thediscomfort associated with the elevated temperature of the contents ofthe paper cup.

[0005] In an effort to provide adequate insulation for comfortablehandling of a paper cup, the art has proposed, for example, in U.S. Pat.No. 5,205,473 and No. 5,425,497 to provide an insulating sleeve forholding the cup. Experience has shown, however, that the insulationprovided by such sleeves could be improved. Also, since the knownsleeves are configured to closely embrace the paper cup, they are not ofgreat assistance in affirmatively preventing a cup from being dropped,or from spilling the contents of the cup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] One object of this invention is to improve the thermal insulationbetween a user's hand and a hot liquid contained in a cup held by theuser.

[0007] Another object of this invention is to increase the grippabilityof a cup.

[0008] Still another object of this invention is to reduce thelikelihood that a beverage cup will be dropped, or its contents spilled.

[0009] Yet another object of this invention is to enable a user tocomfortably hold a beverage cup.

FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In keeping with these objects and others which will becomeapparent hereinafter, one feature of this invention resides, brieflystated, in an accessory for a container, especially a coffee cup, havingan annular side wall and an annular rim projecting outwardly from theside wall. The accessory includes an annular body portioncircumferentially surrounding the side wall about an axis; and anextension portion foldably connected, and movable relative, to the bodyportion from an unfolded position in which the extension portion extendsaxially parallel to the axis, to a folded-out position in which theextension portion extends radially of the axis past the rim. Theextension portion maintains itself in the folded-out position andresists movement back to the unfolded position.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment, the extension portion includes atleast one extension section foldably connected along a convexly curvedfold line to the body portion. It is advantageous if four extensionsections are foldably connected along respective fold lines around thebody portion.

[0012] In accordance with this feature of the invention, each extensionportion, which is self-maintained in the folded-out position, performsseveral functions. First, each extension portion serves as a stop toabut against the rim and position the accessory snugly against the rim.The accessory cannot slide off the container in an upward directiontoward and past the rim. Secondly, at least one of the extensionportions serves as a fingerhold to abut against a user's finger andresist the container from dropping from the user's hand. The convexcurvature of each extension portion engages and conforms to the user'sfinger and, advantageously, a pair of extension portions on oppositesides of the container engages the forefinger and thumb of the user'shand for a secure grip of the container. Thirdly, each extension portionserves as a splash guard to resist the beverage within the containerfrom spilling out onto the user's fingers and wetting them, or possiblyburning them if the container held a hot beverage. Fourthly, by holdingthe container at the extension portions, the user's fingers arethermally insulated.

[0013] In accordance with another feature of this invention, rather thanusing movable extension portions, an annular member or ring can beemployed to perform the above-described stop, fingerhold, splash guardand thermal insulation functions, especially in the case where thecontainer is tapered, that is, where the annular side wall bounds aninterior that narrows in cross-section from an open circular end to aclosed circular end. The ring has a circular opening through which theclosed end of the container is insertable along an axis until the ringabuts against the rim. The circular opening has a diameter smaller thana diameter of the open end of the container to enable the ring toconstrictingly engage the side wall and hold itself in abuttingengagement with the rim. The ring extends radially of the axis past therim and is preferably flattened and lies in a plane perpendicular to theaxis.

[0014] In accordance with yet another feature of this invention, thebody portion is cylindrical and constrictingly engages the side wall ofthe tapered container about an annular contact region adjacent the openend of the container. A skirt circumferentially surrounds, and boundswith, the side wall an annular space that varies in radial cross-sectionin a direction away from the body portion. The annular space is filledwith air and serves as an insulator to shield a user's fingers from thetemperature of the beverage within the container. The skirt ispreferably cylindrical and integral with the body portion.

[0015] Advantageously, the accessory is constituted of a fluted materialhaving corrugations, such as single-face corrugated board. In the priorart, beverage container holders are also made of corrugated board, andair fills the corrugations to serve as a thermal insulator. However, theknown air-filled corrugations of the prior art are pressed snuglyagainst the side wall of the tapered container along the entire heightof the holder, typically about 66 mm. As a result, the temperature ofthe container's contents are directly conducted through the holder. Bycontrast, the skirt of this invention is spaced from the container alongthe entire height of the skirt. The contact region is the onlyengagement between the accessory and the side wall of the container.Preferably, the contact region is about 3 mm high. This represents abouta 95% reduction of the contact area between the container and theaccessory and limits the thermal transfer from the container's contentsto the user's fingers.

[0016] The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of an accessory prior toassembly and mounting on a container;

[0018]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the FIG. 1 embodiment afterassembly;

[0019]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of another embodiment of an accessoryduring its mounting on a container;

[0020]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the FIG. 3 embodiment after beingmounted on the container;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of anaccessory during use;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of FIG. 4;

[0023]FIG. 7 is a top plan view of yet a further embodiment of anaccessory; and

[0024]FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the FIG. 7 embodiment mounted ona container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 depicts a first embodiment of anaccessory for a beverage container prior to its being formed from aflattened state into an annular shape as depicted in FIG. 2 andthereupon mounted on the container as described below. Accessory 10 isconstituted of a paper material, preferably corrugated board or heavyweight paper. Single- or double-face corrugated paper having one or twoliners adhered to one or both sides of a fluted sheet may be employed.The liner may be adhered to the fluted sheet by a variety of adhesives,especially a biodegradable glue.

[0026] Accessory 10 includes a plurality of corrugated body sections 12,14, 16, 18 arranged in a row. End section 18 has interlocking walls 26,28 bounding an S-shaped slot 20. Section 12 has an end flap 22 alsoprovided with an S-shaped slot 24 for lockingly receiving the walls 26,28 as shown in FIG. 2. Crease lines 30, 32, 34, 36 are parallel with oneanother and with the flutes, all of which extend in a verticaldirection. The crease lines assist the accessory to assume the annularshape when the walls 26, 28 are received in the slot 24.

[0027] Corrugated body sections 12, 14, 16, 18 respectively includeextension portions 42, 44, 46, 48 foldably connected to the respectivecorrugated body sections along convexly curved fold lines 40. Eachextension portion is movable relative to its respective body sectionabout the respective fold line, as discussed below.

[0028] In a second embodiment, rather than mechanically interlocking theend section 18 and the end flap 22, the S-shaped slots 20,24 areeliminated, and the fluted sheet removed from the end flap 22.Thereupon, the end flap, which now consists only of liner paper, isglued onto the end walls 26,28 of the end section, thereby resulting inthe annular configuration for the accessory 10 depicted in the lowerpart of FIG. 3.

[0029] A container 50 is shown in the upper part of FIG. 3. Thecontainer 50 is preferably a cup made of paper, for serving either hotor cold beverages, for example, coffee, tea, soup, soda and the like.Container 50 is conventional and has an annular side wall 52 whichbounds an interior that gradually narrows in cross-section from an open,larger circular end 54 to a closed, smaller circular end 56. An annularrim 58 projects outwardly from the side wall 52 at the upper end 54 andis preferably formed by rolling the upper edge of the side wall 52around itself or a circular bead. The closed end 56 is shown not at thebottom of the container, but raised therefrom. The closed end 56includes a circular disc having a bent, annular lip 60 around which alower edge of the side wall 52 is folded and adhered. Other containerconfigurations, other than the tapered, frusto-conical cup shown, arecontemplated.

[0030] The annular accessory 10 is slid onto and past the lower end ofthe cup 50 in the direction of arrow 38 in FIG. 3 until the diameter orcross-section of the open end of the accessory matches the diameter orcross-section of the tapered side wall 52 of the cup. This may occuranywhere along the height of the cup, but preferably occurs at, or justbelow, the rim 58 as shown in FIG. 4. The accessory is frictionally heldin place by a wedged, interference fit between the accessory and thetapered cup.

[0031] Either prior to, during, or after the accessory is mounted on thecup, each extension portion is moved from its initial, unfolded positionin which the respective extension portion extends axially parallel to anaxis of symmetry of the annular accessory, to a folded-out position inwhich the respective extension portion extends radially of the axis pastthe rim 58 as shown in FIG. 4. In the initial position, each extensionportion is vertical and merges smoothly and continuously with itsrespective body section. In the folded-out position, each extensionportion lies in a convexly curved plane where a central portion of eachextension portion is elevated relative to end portions of the respectiveextension portion.

[0032] Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, a user's fingers, especially the thumband the forefinger, hold the container by engaging the raised centralportions of a pair of extension portions on opposite sides of thecontainer. The curvature of each extension portion follows the curvedfold line 40 and generally conforms to the contour of the user's thumband forefinger in the held position of the container.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, the preferred embodiment of the accessory 10includes two opposite pairs of extension portions around the entireperiphery of the rim 58. Each extension portion maintains itself in thefolded-out position and resists movement back to the initial, unfoldedposition. This is not only due to the thickness of the material used tofabricate the accessory, but also due to the curvature of each extensionposition where the end portions of a respective extension portion aremoved through a greater distance, and past, the central portion of therespective extension portion. The weight of the contents of the cup areinsufficient to move the end portions of the extension portion back pastthe central portion. Hence, the outwardly flared configuration of allthe extension portions are maintained when the container is used toserve a beverage.

[0034] The outwardly flared extension portions perform variousfunctions. First of all, they abut against the rim to firmly and snuglyposition the accessory thereagainst and prevent the accessory from beingmoved past the rim. Secondly, they serve as a fingerhold ofcomplementary contour to a user's fingers to allow the user to obtain afirm grasp. Thirdly, since they extend past the rim, the extensionportions serve as splash guards and resist any beverage initially withinthe container from spilling out over the rim onto the user's fingers.Fourthly, since the user's fingers do not directly engage the container,but instead, engage the accessory, any conduction of heat from thebeverage to the user's fingers is minimized because the accessory, andespecially the air contained within the flutes of the accessory, act asa thermal insulating barrier.

[0035] To provide still further thermal insulation, the body sections12, 14, 16, 18 extend axially for a predetermined distance to form acylindrical skirt 62 integral with, and extending axially away from, thebody sections. As best seen in FIG. 4, the cylindrical skirt 62surrounds, and bounds with, the side wall 52 an annular space 64. Theannular space 64 increases in radial cross-section in a direction awayfrom the extension portions. The annular space 64 is filled with air andserves as a thermal insulator in addition to the insulation provided bythe air within the flutes of the accessory.

[0036] In a modification, the skirt need not be cylindrical, but can,for example, be conical with a taper or angle greater or less than thetaper or angle of the side wall 52. The space 64 could even decrease inradial cross-section in the direction away from the extension portions.

[0037] The skirt need not even be integral with the body sections.Instead, the skirt may be a separate, discrete piece.

[0038] The additional volume of air within the space 64 also creates achimney effect as a result of air rising upwardly through the space 64toward the rim and radially outwardly between the container and theaccessory.

[0039] The body sections, as previously noted, constrictingly engage theside wall 52 about an annular contact region adjacent the open end ofthe container. This contact region serves as the only area of surfaceengagement between the accessory and the side wall, thus insuringminimal heat conduction to the user's fingers. As noted above, theapproximate 3 mm height for the contact region represents a 95%reduction of the contact area between the container and the accessory.

[0040] A comparison of FIGS. 4 and 5 reveals that the skirt 62 may havean extended height of about one-half of the height of the container asshown in FIG. 4, or have a reduced height as in FIG. 5. In each case,the skirt is cylindrical, and the container is conical, thereby creatingthe diverging air space 64. In prior art holders, the accessory has aconical shape which matches that of the container and actually increasesheat conduction.

[0041]FIG. 7 depicts an annular member or ring 70 having a centralopening 72 through which the closed end of the tapered container 50 isaxially inserted until the ring makes an interference fit with theannular side wall 52, preferably just underneath the rim 58 againstwhich the ring abuts. The ring 70 is flat and, when mounted against therim, extends radially past the rim. The ring 70 serves as a stableplatform for one's fingers to hold the container, and also serves as asplash guard to protect the user's fingers from spills from the contentsof the container. A separate skirt, as described above, could be slidonto the container and mounted thereon below the ring 70.

[0042] It will be understood that each of the elements described above,or two or more together, also may find a useful application in othertypes of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0043] While the invention has been illustrated and described asembodied in a beverage container accessory, it is not intended to belimited to the details shown, since various modifications and structuralchanges may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of thepresent invention.

[0044] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal thegist of the present invention that others can, by applying currentknowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omittingfeatures that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of thisinvention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

[0045] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by LettersPatent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. An accessory for a container having an annular side wall andan annular rim projecting outwardly from the side wall, comprising: a)an annular body portion circumferentially surrounding the side wallabout an axis; and b) an extension portion foldably connected, andmovable relative, to the body portion from an unfolded position in whichthe extension portion extends axially parallel to the axis, to afolded-out position in which the extension portion extends radially ofthe axis past the rim, the extension portion maintaining itself in thefolded-out position and resisting movement back to the unfoldedposition.
 2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the extension portionincludes at least one extension section foldably connected along acurved fold line to the body portion.
 3. The accessory of claim 2,wherein the fold line is convexly curved.
 4. The accessory of claim 2,wherein the at least one extension section lies in a curved plane in thefolded-out position.
 5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the extensionportion includes a pair of extension sections equiangularly spaced apartaround the axis and foldably connected along respective curved foldlines to the body portion.
 6. The accessory of claim 5, wherein theextension portion includes another pair of extension sectionsequiangularly spaced apart around the axis and foldably connected alongrespective curved fold lines to the body portion.
 7. The accessory ofclaim 1, wherein the body and extension portions are constituted of acorrugated board having axially-extending corrugations, and wherein thecurved fold line extends across the corrugations.
 8. The accessory ofclaim 1, wherein the annular body portion includes a skirt extendingaxially of the axis away from the extension portion.
 9. The accessory ofclaim 8, wherein the body and extension portions and the skirt areconstituted of a liner board and a fluted sheet of a corrugating mediumhaving corrugations.
 10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the annularbody portion and the extension portion are integrally formed on anelongated strip having opposite end regions which have interlockingparts to form the body portion and the extension portion into an annularshape.
 11. An accessory for a container having an annular side wallwhich bounds an interior that narrows in cross-section from an open endto a closed end of the container, comprising: a) a cylindrical bodyportion circumferentially surrounding the side wall about an axis, andconstrictingly engaging the side wall about an annular contact regionadjacent the open end of the container; and b) a skirt circumferentiallysurrounding, and bounding with, the side wall an annular space thatvaries in radial cross-section in a direction away from the bodyportion, the contact region being the only engagement between theaccessory and the side wall for constrictingly holding the accessory onthe container.
 12. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the body portionand the skirt are constituted of a fluted material having corrugations.13. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the container has an annular rimprojecting outwardly from the side wall; and further comprising anextension portion foldably connected, and movable relative, to the bodyportion from an unfolded position in which the extension portion extendsaxially parallel to the axis, to a folded-out position in which theextension portion extends radially of the axis past the rim, theextension portion maintaining itself in the folded-out position andresisting movement back to the unfolded position.
 14. The accessory ofclaim 13, wherein the extension portion includes at least one extensionsection foldably connected along a curved fold line to the body portion.15. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the skirt is integral with thebody portion.
 16. The accessory of claim 11, wherein the skirt iscylindrical and extends axially away from the body portion.
 17. Anaccessory for a container having an annular side wall which bounds aninterior that narrows in cross-section from an open circular end to aclosed circular end, and an annular rim projecting outwardly from theside wall at the open end, the accessory comprising: an annular memberhaving a circular opening through which the closed end of the containeris insertable along an axis until the annular member abuts against therim, the circular opening having a diameter smaller than a diameter ofthe open end of the container to enable the annular member toconstrictingly engage the side wall and hold itself in abuttingengagement with the rim, the annular member extending radially of theaxis past the rim.
 18. The accessory of claim 17, and a skirtcircumferentially surrounding, and bounding with, the side wall anannular space that varies in radial cross-section.